Once it’s first pointed out, you can’t unsee it: the “boob” light. Sure, they’re not officially called that, but these flush-mount lights with their domed glass covers—found in just about any apartment or quick-flip house these days—look a heck of a lot like a lone robot breast, just dangling from your ceiling.
When we bought our house, the original homeowners took just about every light fixture with them, leaving us with boobs, boobs everywhere. Great if we ran a strip club; not so great for a house. They’re fine, I guess. Just not particularly pretty to look at.
Our dining room, in particular, looked pretty bland with one there, and we thought it could use more of a statement light. How hard could it be? we asked ourselves. After watching a few YouTube videos, I quickly chickened out, letting Nate do all the heavy lifting here, but I got him to spill the beans on just how easy it was. (Note: If you do this yourself, you do so at your own risk. We’re not electricians or experts, and we don’t know your home or your electrical situation.)
1. Find the right fixture for you, using this trick:
Width of room + length of room (in ft) = diameter of light fixture (in inches)
2. Turn off the power.
We shut off everything.
3. Unscrew the existing boob light.
Disconnect all of the wires. There were three: a black wire, known as the “hot wire,” from what we read; a white wire, or the “neutral” wire; and a copper wire, which was the ground wire.
4. Install the new light.
Before we hung it, we measured the chain on the pendant light we were replacing it with. We removed a few of the links, so it was just the right height to dangle above the dining room table without obstructing anyone’s view.
We connected the three wires to the wires in the new light: black to black, white to white, and—in the ground wire’s case, green to copper. Then, I used a wire twisting cap to connect each one. Once the wires were connected, I sought Candace’s help to ensure the light was at the right height and screwed everything in.
Oh, Umbrella Academy, how you mess with our heads: What’s the deal with Hargreeves?(Nobody knows.) Wait, is Cha Cha played by Mary J. Blige? (Sure is.) And is this whole show based on a graphic novel by…the lead singer of My Chemical Romance? (Indeed.) In honor of the third season’s release earlier this year, you’re morally obligated to dress up as a member of the team. Whether that’s a Sparrow or Umbrella, that’s your call.
The only thing that’s certain is that anyone who’s seen the show will rush to spend the rest of whatever Halloween party you’re at chatting about theories, conspiracies and who-to-ship ahead of season four’s release.
Umbrella Academy-Inspired Costume Ideas
Photo: Netflix/Amazon
First, a Costume Similar to the Umbrella Academy‘s School Uniform:
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Midnights may not be released until just before Halloween—October 21, to be exact—but that’s still plenty of time to learn every lyric by heart. And capture a look from Taylor Swift’s Midnights era ahead of any Halloween parties you head to (or, you know, should you hit up a concert down the road).
Swift’s ’70s-glam-inspired looks are right on trend, and the best part about this costume idea is that you can wear the look separately down the road without ever feeling, well, costume-y. So really, this post is just giving you license to finally buy that daisy cardigan you’ve been eyeing.
A Key Taylor Swift ‘Midnights With Me’ Look, Deconstructed
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We aren’t affiliated with Taylor Swift or Republic Records. We’re just fans providing costume ideas for other fans. Lead photo: Taylor Swift/TikTok/Amazon
When it comes to throwback Britney Spears Halloween costumes, the ‘Baby One More Time’ schoolgirl look has been done. And done. And done. You could hunt down—or DIY—a denim gown and convince someone to be your Justin for one seriously good couples costume, but if the Texas Tuxedo look is too much for you, there’s another great homage to try: Britney’s iconic “Oops!…I Did It Again” music video ensemble.
It’s a total conversation starter, from the nostalgia of reliving the early aughts to the 587 questions you undoubtedly have about the song itself (many of which involving that whole Titanic reference toward the end).
How to Dress Like Britney in “Oops!…I Did It Again”
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We are not affiliated with Britney Spears or Jive Records. We’re just fans, providing costume ideas for other fans. (Lead photo: ‘Oops!…I Did It Again’/Jive Records/YouTube)
Somewhere around the third birthday, you lose control over Halloween costumes. Sticking to a theme can be fun…and tricky. Your kid’s got strong opinions on what they want to be, and if you want to coordinate, your options are limited. Bluey’s family is a solid choice, and for the five-and-under set, so are the PJ Masks.
You could go all out in full costume, but if you want something a little more low effort (that feels slightly more versatile, as you dash from work to the school Halloween parade), we’ve got you covered.
We cut out basic PJ Masks-inspired character silhouettes on a Cricut and ironed them onto sweatshirts for our adult costumes last year, but you can find already-made versions on Etsy. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Photos: Candace Braun Davison
PJ Masks-Inspired Costumes for the Whole Family
Owlette-Inspired Costumes
Kids’ Owlette (Deluxe Light-Up) costume,$31 at Amazon
Kids’ Owlette hoodie with detachable cape,$19 at Amazon
Eleven and Mike? Please. Hopper and Joyce? Yawn. Dustin and Steve? So three years ago. When it comes to a fun Stranger Things-inspired couples costume, Halloween 2022 is all about the relationship that almost was: Chrissy and Eddie Munson. Both newcomers to the show, both—spoiler alert!—gone before their time (or, more aptly, before viewers were ready to let go of them), they’re absolutely worthy of an encore at your next Halloween party.
Here’s how to get the look, even if you’re deciding what to wear at the last minute, since the clothes are all available on Amazon.
Greta Gerwig’s live action adaptation of Barbie may not hit theaters until summer 2023, but the looks leaked from the movie have gotten all kinds of attention, hitting us square in the ’90s-nostalgia-loving, Barbiecore-embracing heart. Take a page from one of Margot Robbie’s neon-hued looks—and maybe convince someone to go heavy on the Isle of Paradise and be your Ken while you’re at it.
Eighteen years later, Mean Girls endures. Its jokes, its satirical insights into the world of high school hierarchies…even the fashion is starting to make a comeback. And over the years, dressing up as the Plastics has been a perennial favorite, but there’s a fresher take everyone overlooks (but is just as easy to pull off and equally recognizable): Amy Poehler’s June George.
It’s the Mean Girls costume to end all Mean Girls costumes. After all, she’s not a regular mom, she’s a…oh, c’mon, you know you know how that line ends. It’s one people routinely say to this day, so why not dress up as the original momager?
We’re kicking off Halloween 13, the 2022 edition, with one of this fall’s most buzzed-about movies: Don’t Worry Darling. The drama surrounding this drama—about an idyllic 1950s town where things aren’t quite what they seem—have overshadowed the film, so you could really take things in one of two directions: Borrowing one of Florence Pugh’s or Harry Styles’s looks from the movie itself, or dressing up as a meme related to its bonkers press tour. We’ve got options for both.
Images of Chris Pine looking like he was summoning every ounce of strength to get through press interviews for the film went viral, turning into countless memes. With the right lob and a set of headphones, you can easily nail this look.
Shortly after a leaked video of Don’t Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde referring to Pugh as “Miss Flo,” the actress shared an Instagram Story of herself getting glammed up while her team wore “Miss Flo” shirts, adding fuel to the feuding-behind-the-scenes rumors. Leave it to the internet to waste no time creating their own riffs on the shirt.
Photos: New Line Cinema/Vertigo Entertainment/Urban Outfitters/Amazon/Sephora
If you’re playing Jack (aka Styles), all you really need is a fitted suit, white button-down and a skinny tie. As for Pugh’s character, Alice, curtain bangs, dangly earrings and a retro, a-line dress are musts. Here’s a look we pulled together, inspired by her style in the film:
Hocus Pocus 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 1993 classic, hits Disney+ on September 30, so you better believe Sanderson-themed costumes are going to be hotter than ever. (Not to mention Hocus Pocus-themed parties.) Winnie, Sarah and Mary Sanderson have been staple Halloween costume for a while now, which is why we’re voting that if you do pay homage to the film, you try out a different look this year.
What about Thackary Binx, in human or cat form? Or Sarah’s ex, Billy? Or, better yet, what about Thora Birch’s character, Dani? Dani may be an elementary schooler, but she steals every scene she’s in, which is why we’re breaking down her outfit (and taking a few liberties, since exact matches are a little tricky here). Yeah, yeah, we know Dani won’t be in the sequel, but this character is so iconic to the original that she’s worth the tribute.
Photo: Disney/YouTube
The Dani Dennison-Inspired Halloween Costume:
Photos: Disney/Amazon/RedBubble
Black witch’s hat ($3) — Add red washi tape around the brim for a more authentic look
Psst: Dani’s fringe cardigan is back at Hot Topic! While it’s a little different than what Dani actually wore, it was such a hit when it was sold during Halloween 2020 that we’re not surprised HT brought it back (and it’s 20 percent off with the code HTDEAL).
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Years after being ‘canceled’ following her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift has experienced a revival: Phase one was Lover, revealing a renewal of optimism for the singer-songwriter. Phase two was Folklore/Evermore, the two-album, folksy drop that felt right in line with our need for pandemic escapism. And, on the heels of the MTV Video Music Awards—the first relevant one in years, where more than TikTik influencers showed up—Swift announced a new album, Midnights, dropping on October 21st.
The thrills and fanfare surrounding the announcement in the 24 hours afterward felt like she had finally eclipsed the cancellation six years. Suddenly, feeds were rejoicing at the aspect of new music, rather than snarking at it. At the same time, colleges are offering courses analyzing her music, all leading me to wonder: What makes it so infectious, particularly when every album is a sonic departure from the last?
They’re a Mirror and a Portal
The beauty of Swift’s songwriting lies in its specificity; she doesn’t tell you she’s heartbroken, she shows it, with confessional-style lines that paint a picture of the exact scene, taking you there. (Just look at how that old scarf from “All Too Well” has taken on a life of its own.) It invokes empathy, putting you in the scene and serving as a portal to her world; a level of vulnerability that isn’t offered all that regularly in our Instagram-polished lives.
In that sense, it’s a portal, as is the melody itself. Anyone who listened to Folklore or Evermorecan attest to how those haunting tunes gave people a sense of reality, while also transporting them far away from their masked, socially distanced, quarantined lives during the pandemic. The videos and imagery leaned into a cozy escape into the woods, far away from sterile hospitals and the scenes we were seeing play out on TV.
Through the lyrics, though, you’re taken someplace new, but you can related to the feelings being shared, be they heartbreak, longing, betrayal, hopefulness, excitement. The specificity of those one-liners triggers your own experiences, and in doing so, Swift holds a mirror up to listeners. She’s at once relatable—and a source of escape from the everyday.
We can’t resist an all-in-good-fun mystery. Just look at how popular scavenger hunts have become on the site. And Swift’s albums are scavenger hunts in and of themselves; loaded with Easter eggs, as people try to determine which stories reflect her own life—and what, exactly, they could be about—and which are fiction. Not to mention the music videos themselves often feature nods to Swift’s favorite things and things fans rave about.
Every detail is purposefully considered, down to what clothes she wears and how she styles her hair with each launch, hence why we referred to them earlier as phases of an evolution, though in Swift parlance, they’re more commonly considered eras, and they existed long before the Kimye drama. She’s fully aware that people will speculate, and so she directs them, with little clues sprinkled everywhere. It adds a sense of fun and whimsy, but it also shows a songwriter who’s taken control of her life, and that’s empowering too.
The Songs Are Catchy
Plain and simple: If the songs dragged on or failed to have effective hooks, they wouldn’t have quite the widespread appeal. Similarly, her song structure often contains subconscious Easter eggs, it would seem—a 2013 study found that we’re drawn to music that has recognizable features that help us predict what may happen next, and the reward centers of our brains light up when those expectations are confirmed…or destroyed. There’s a giddiness in the anticipation, and Swift’s songs often establish a pattern, only to subvert it by the end. (Find more than a dozen examples in this Reddit thread.)
We haven’t heard a single song on Midnights yet, though it’s racking up the presales (across digital, vinyl, CD and, uh, remember cassettes?). And yet, ever the storyteller, Swift’s words set the stage, as she shared via Instagram that it comprises stories of 13 sleepless nights she’s had over the years. Relatable, mysterious—and packaged with a fiery cover and a sparkly-glam vibe that’s transporting.
You don’t know exactly where you’re headed, but you have a good enough idea to trust the singer, so naturally, you’re in for the ride.
You can preorder Midnights ahead of its October 21 launch now.
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Hocus Pocus 2 doesn’t hit theaters until September 30th, but it’d be hard to tell that from a simple search online. Buzz about the movie and merch abound—and considering how quickly Halloween decorations are already selling out (ahem, Skelly and Bath & Body Works’s now-infamous eyeball candle holder)—I have no qualms about daydreaming of Hocus Pocus-inspired decor to darken our doorways this fall.
How to Really Hit the ‘Hocus Pocus’ Theme (Without Getting Too Cheesy):
Aim for a dark, Victorian-meets-whimsical vibe, rather than a bunch of signs featuring quotes from the movie and illustrations of its stars (which are everywhere). Think black lace, jewel tone accents, plenty of pillar candles (perhaps LED, so you don’t have to worry about blowing ’em out?), warped brooms, aged faux skulls.
Our Fave Finds:
If you want to really lean into a theme this year, be it for a Hocus Pocus-themed party ahead of the sequel’s premiere or just to macabre up your walls this spooky season, these finds don’t disappoint.
Yes, it’s an actual candle! And it’s unscented, so it won’t mess with your carefully curated pumpkin spice *vibes.* Reviewers rave about the candle’s detail and its 60-hour burn time, so you’ll be able to enjoy this candle all season long. Should you be daring enough to light it, of course.
Look a little closer at the design, and you’ll see the Sanderson sisters flying over the trees. Little LED lights will make it stand out at night, amping up the enchanting vibe.
Admittedly, this tombstone is an investment, as far as Halloween decorations are concerned, but for the ultimate fan, the nearly one-foot-tall grave marker is incredibly detailed and sturdy (it’s made of resin, not Styrofoam, like most graveyard decor).
No party would be complete without the “boooook!” This Latex book cover is hand-painted, and while you’ll need to provide your own book to fill it out, it’s worth the smidgen of effort to see this prop come to life (and it’s much cheaper than some of the other book props out there).
For less than $25, you can bedeck said mantel (or fireplace, or any surface, really) with a full set of LED candles in varying heights, which you can control with the included remote AND set to a timer.
Hey, somebody’s gotta provide the entertainment. (Bonus points if it comes to life next to Mary’s ride of choice, a vacuum.) At 47 inches tall, this broom will catch people by surprise as it starts zipping around the house.
Let’s be real: This is the only tumbler you’ll want to have on hand come September. Beer glass cans are everywhere right now, but this portable take one-ups things with its glow-in-the-dark snow globe effect. Trippy.
If you don’t want to deal with a book cover (or you just really love Hocus Pocus), you need to check out this cell phone cover. There are several options available for different iPhones, though some reviewers complain that there’s a small white line at the bottom of the case, where the design doesn’t extend from edge to edge.
